So what’s wrong with cricket?

Spent a morning sitting the George and Dragon with a couple of other ex-pats on Sunday. The idea was to go and watch the football and enjoy breakfast (and the G&D does a great full breakfast), and we got onto the subject of cricket. It’s not secret I really enjoy the game, especially the full five-day test matches. I’ve always loved the way the spectacle slowly unfolds in front of you. Additionally there are a lot of great memories of spending time with dad learning about the game.

At its best it’s beautiful to watch, no mater if it’s witnessing a great batting performance, a spell of devastating bowling or a beautifully balanced game going into the final day. There is something very unique about the game.

When I was in England in March and April dad and I spent a number of afternoons watching the 20/20 version of the game from the IPL, very spectacular and fun to watch. No question about that, but if you listened carefully the buzzing noise was WG Grace and The Don spinning in their graves as they hear of Steve Waugh playing in Silver pajamas.

Back to the George and Dragon, with the Ashes (a best of five test series where Australia will be hosting and giving England the expected thrashing) coming up this winter the discussion over breakfast ended up at cricket.

I maintain the game is rather tilted in favour of the batsmen at this time, and there seems to be some level of agreement here. Boundaries have shortened in many grounds, the bat is heavier and makes the ball travel further, fitness has increased (can anyone imagine Boycott having a fitness consultant?) and of course the batsmen have more padding that an American football player to allow them to face a short-pitched bouncer.

All these things are here to stay, and I don’t have a problem with seeing better athletes well protected from a 150kph Wasim Akram inswinger.

So what’s the answer? I think it’s the pitches; they are so benign as to offer little challenge. Lords is immaculate prepared, but it plays essentially the same on day-five as it does on day-one. The Oval on the other hand traditionally allows big first innings totals, followed by second innings collapses as it deteriorates.

The bowlers kicking holes in the surface help the deterioration, but as I’ve said I think they need all the help they can get in the game today. While that upsets the grounds men to does make sure we get a result in five days and gets away from the boring bat fest.

While I like to see monumental innings like Trott and Broad this summer at Lords, I also want to see what the bowlers have got. Lets face it; Amir was spectacular in the same game (other than the whole betting thing of course). OK, I want it all, but damn it’s good to watch when it comes together.

In summary – Lets even the playing field between the bowlers and batsmen, let the umpires worry about LBW rather than where the bowler’s feet are (that’s why we have TV). Produce some pitches that are going to deteriorate somewhat to give the bowlers a more of a chance as the test carries on.

My last change would be offering light to the batsmen. Most test grounds have floodlights; those that don’t should, especially with the increase in 20/20 being played in the evening midweek. Just turn on the lights and poor light will never stop play again.

See, all the problems with test cricket solved by three people over breakfast on a Sunday morning, what’s so difficult? Now where is the address of the ICC…